ACX J-S Nonbook Reviews
Here’s the next batch of ACX reviews, summarized by NotebookLM. This post includes summaries of many of the J-S reviews. See this doc for the full reviews. There’s a chance I wrote one of the reviews here.
JFK Assassination Conspiracy Theories This review examines various conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It outlines the established facts, including Lee Harvey Oswald's arrest and subsequent killing by Jack Ruby. The Warren Commission concluded Oswald and Ruby acted alone, a finding largely disbelieved by the public. The review discusses theories involving the CIA, Soviets, Mafia, Lyndon Johnson, the military-industrial complex, Israel/Jews, bankers, and even accidental Secret Service involvement. Despite persistent speculation and declassifications, the author concludes that Oswald acting alone remains the most plausible explanation among all possibilities.
Judaism This review explores Judaism through its perceived strengths: law, persecution, comedy, and hats. It highlights the significance of the Torah and the Talmud in shaping Jewish thought and culture. The author describes how centuries of persecution have fostered resilience, mobility, and strong communal cooperation and charity among Jews. Jewish comedy is presented as a distinct form that uses humor to cope with adversity and reclaim agency. The "hats" section humorously acknowledges the author's own limited understanding and the depth of Jewish traditions.
Martial Arts Review: Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu This review focuses on Muay Thai (striking) and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (grappling) as the leading unarmed martial arts. It traces the evolution of Western understanding of martial arts, from post-WWII fascination to the emergence of Mixed Martial Arts. Muay Thai is presented as a highly effective full-contact striking art, while Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is lauded for its ground fighting and joint manipulation techniques that prioritize control over striking. The author highly recommends a recreational combination of both for practical self-defense, physical fitness, and avoiding injuries, calling it the "best bang for your buck."
Miniatur Wunderland: The Model Train that Dreams It's a World This review praises Miniatur Wunderland, a massive model railway exhibition in Hamburg, Germany, describing it as the "Best Museum in the World." It highlights four key qualities: its immense size and intricate detail (including a functioning airport), obsessive attention to realism (day-night cycles, real water, fire brigades), the satisfaction of complex systems operating flawlessly, and its irreverent, whimsical touches (Easter eggs, pop culture references). The review attributes its creation to Frederik Braun's visionary enthusiasm and his brother Gerrit's skeptical pragmatism, driven by the philosophy that "overall it should be possible."
Museum Of Science, Boston This review humorously describes the Museum of Science, Boston, focusing on its unexpected features. The author's family highly values the hand stamp machines as an accidental robotics exhibit. The review critiques the museum's "Survival Of The Slowest" exhibit for its lack of labels, which forces reliance on computers and detracts from direct learning. While commending the museum's bilingual efforts in Spanish for scientific content, the author points out a puzzling inconsistency: critical safety information is not translated, suggesting a flawed prioritization of accessibility.
My World is Built on Lies This review uses "instant mashed potatoes" as a metaphor for "IMPish imitations" – products that superficially resemble original things but lack their substance and purpose. The author argues that much of modern progress involves shredding real things and reconstituting them into convenient but inferior substitutes. This "antipattern" is applied broadly to processed foods, furniture, intellectual goods, corporate structures, and even large language models. The review emphasizes the importance of discerning genuine quality from these imitations to avoid self-deception and maintain a richer experience of the world.
My Imagination This review is a personal narrative about the author's lifelong practice of building and exploring an elaborate imaginary world. It details the evolution of this internal storytelling, from early superhero adventures with a recurring villain ("Dark Scott Nil") to complex character arcs and galactic-scale events. The author explains how imposing rules and challenges within this imaginary world fostered deeper creativity and narrative nuance. The review ultimately argues that creating such personal stories is a valuable act of self-expression and enjoyment, regardless of whether they are shared.
Participation in Phase I clinical pharmaceutical research This review offers a participant's perspective on Phase I clinical trials, which test drug safety and tolerability. It describes the process of finding studies, rigorous screenings, and the "Informed Consent Form." The core of the review highlights the perverse incentives within the system that discourage honesty from participants, particularly regarding their medical history or participation in other studies. Participants often view clinics as adversaries and are hesitant to report negative drug reactions for fear of being permanently excluded from future studies. The author argues this systemic dishonesty may filter for a specific participant population and warrants further research into its impact on drug safety data.
Permaculture: Rationality’s Long Lost Twin This review draws parallels between permaculture and the rationality community, portraying both as movements focused on long-term systemic improvement with distinct cultures and influential figures. Permaculture is defined as an agricultural and land management philosophy that mimics and works with natural ecosystems, rather than imposing artificial order. It emphasizes techniques like water management and interplanting to create self-sustaining systems that reduce the need for constant human intervention. The review suggests that both movements offer holistic perspectives by synthesizing various concepts, requiring time and immersion to fully grasp their ideas.
Pregnancy: A British Husband’s Review This review provides a candid account of a British husband's experience during his wife's pregnancy, structured by trimester. It details the baffling aspects of pregnancy timelines, the severity of morning sickness, and contrasting healthcare approaches between the UK's NHS and South Korea regarding scans and medication. The review also touches on the gendered marketing of baby products and the cultural differences in childbirth and baby care expectations between nationalities and generations, emphasizing the importance of open communication between partners.
Pure Mathematics This review advocates for the public funding of pure mathematics, arguing for its societal value beyond aesthetic merit. The author contends that pure mathematics is essential for solving complex real-world problems, even when its applications are not immediately obvious. The review emphasizes the importance of developing abstract, general problem-solving techniques without specific applications in mind, as these often become the foundational tools for future scientific and technological breakthroughs.
Rubbermaid products This review champions Rubbermaid products, praising their dependability, durability, and consistent functional excellence. The author contrasts Rubbermaid with other products that prioritize aesthetics or marketing over performance, asserting that Rubbermaid consistently delivers on its promise to "just work." Through personal anecdotes and a detailed guide to cleaning a toilet with a Rubbermaid brush, the review illustrates the brand's reliability across various mundane tasks, highlighting the "security and consistency" it offers in a world of declining product quality.
School (What Do Schools Do?) This essay reviews the institution of school, aiming to explain why age-graded classrooms and inefficient learning are prevalent. The author, a teacher, argues that schools, while not perfectly maximizing learning, primarily serve to motivate students and provide a common social experience. It acknowledges that schools do impart basic literacy and arithmetic, and contribute to IQ gains. The review critiques the consistent failure of "personalized learning" models, attributing it to the human tendency towards conformity, which makes the social structure of traditional, lockstep instruction more effective for the majority of students.
Schools - A Review This review criticizes the K-12 US education system for its perceived inefficiencies and the "unnecessary suffering and waste" it causes. The author argues that schools overly emphasize memorization of facts and techniques rather than deeper understanding and application. It suggests that the rise of AI provides opportunities to transform education, such as by enabling AI-assisted homework and collaborative learning, advocating for a shift towards more individualized learning experiences that allow students to be "themselves."
Scientific Peer Review - Umbilical Cord or Corduroy Umbrella? This review critically analyzes scientific peer review, likening its current state to a "corduroy umbrella" – cumbersome and ineffective – rather than an ideal "umbilical cord" that filters and nourishes quality research. It argues that poor ideas persist due to early adoption and alignment with profit motives, and that the system fails to consistently identify false results or recognize true innovations. Key issues include reviewer lack of motivation, time lags, and the exploitability of the system by AI-generated content. The review proposes reforms like an "R-Squared score" to incentivize timely and high-quality reviews and improve the scientific ecosystem.
Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Technical Info This review celebrates Sheldon Brown's bicycle technical blog as an extensive and invaluable online resource for bicycle mechanics. The author expresses a profound sense of discovery similar to finding foundational rationalist texts, highlighting the depth of knowledge available for "grokking" (deeply understanding) bicycle mechanics, from basic maintenance to complex technical details. The review emphasizes the bicycle's inherent efficiency and affordability and the blog's role in fostering self-sufficiency and a deeper appreciation for mechanical systems.
Sign-tracking Sucks This review strongly criticizes "sign-tracking," the tendency to pursue cues associated with rewards rather than the rewards themselves. It argues that sign-tracking is stressful, pointless, and deceptive. Drawing on rat experiments, it explains how sign-tracking causes chronic stress, leading to depression and perpetuating addictive behaviors. The review asserts that sign-tracking creates an "endless hedonic treadmill" by focusing on "wanting" rather than "liking" or actual satisfaction. It advocates for "goal-tracking" and skeptical inquiry into externally imposed values as a path to a more purposeful life.
State of competitive debating (unions) address This review examines the evolution of British Parliamentary (BP) university debating, contrasting it with American high school formats. It highlights the circuit's commitment to fair and intellectually stimulating topics, noting improvements in motion selection and judging standards. The review discusses how judges are expected to adopt a "moderate liberal position" to ensure reasoned deliberation. It praises American debaters for their analytical rigor and extensive preparation, and acknowledges the role of "equity teams" in maintaining a welcoming environment.
Synanthropes - Love thy infestation This review argues for a shift in perspective towards "synanthropes"—animals like rats, pigeons, and cockroaches that thrive near humans. The author's primary goal is to challenge conventional negative views and cultivate "grudging respect" for these creatures, rather than simply providing information or coordinating social tastes. It draws on Daoist philosophy, particularly the concept of "uselessness," to suggest that the lack of utility can protect organisms from exploitation, subtly promoting a re-evaluation of overlooked phenomena.
Of Mice, Mechanisms, and Dementia This review critically examines a foundational 1995 paper on Alzheimer's disease mouse models, arguing that its polished narrative obscured significant flaws that contributed to decades of misdirected research. The author, a molecular neuroscientist, highlights issues such as the mouse's extreme overexpression of human APP, the absence of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) (a key Alzheimer's pathology), and lack of evidence for widespread neuronal death or cognitive decline despite plaque formation. The review concludes that these flaws ultimately disqualified the model, yet the amyloid hypothesis persisted due to industry investment and scientific consensus, advocating for broader research approaches.
On Taste This review defines "good taste" as a "genuine preference for genuine quality," distinguishing it from mere perception or social conformity. It argues that true quality rewards sustained attention and can be evaluated across multiple dimensions. The review explores the complex debate on how to properly "enjoy" art, referencing Barthes, Foucault, and Sontag on the role of the author and interpretation. It critiques "snobs" who dictate taste without genuine engagement, advocating for individuals to cultivate their own authentic appreciation while acknowledging the role of experts in guiding this process.
Planecrash This review covers "Planecrash," a collaborative fiction continuity on Glowfic, describing it as a unique blend of a D&D game, a Truman Show remake, a math textbook, and a romance novel. It praises the world-building, the protagonist's Bayesian efforts to uncover a conspiracy, and the integration of complex mathematical concepts. The romance between the main characters is also noted. The review suggests that while the collaborative writing style is a strength, its quality diminishes when one author's voice becomes too dominant.
Joan of Arc This review delves into the historical account of Joan of Arc, drawing from trial transcripts and other sources. It explores her extraordinary military successes and the "miraculous" events surrounding her, such as a sudden wind change aiding her forces. The review presents and discusses three main theories for her abilities: divine inspiration (Saint), sophisticated training and manipulation (Schemer), or mental illness (Schizophrenic). It details the irregularities of her condemnation trial and the subsequent rehabilitation, emphasizing the challenges of historical interpretation and concluding that the available evidence for Joan's life is remarkably strong for her era.